Methods for increasing oil content in plants

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to methods for increasing the oil content in plants, preferably in the seeds of plants, by expression of glycerol-3-phosphatdehydrogenases (G3PDH) from yeast, preferably from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The invention also relates to expression constructs for the expression of G3PDH yeast in plants, preferably in the seeds of plants, transgenic plants expressing G3PDH, and to the use of said transgenic plants in the production of foodstuffs, feed, seeds, pharmaceuticals or fine chemicals, especially in the production of oils.

The invention relates to methods for increasing the oil content in plants, preferably in plant seeds, by expressing yeast glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenases (G3PDH), preferably from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The invention furthermore relates to expression constructs for expressing yeast G3PDH in plants, preferably in plant seeds, transgenic plants expressing yeast G3PDH, and to the use of said transgenic plants for the production of food, feeds, seed, pharmaceuticals or fine chemicals, in particular for the production of oils.

Increasing the oil content in plants and, in particular, in plant seeds is of great interest for traditional and modern plant breeding and in particular for plant biotechnology. Owing to the increasing consumption of vegetable oils for nutrition or industrial applications, possibilities of increasing or modifying vegetable oils are increasingly the subject of current research (for example Töpfer et al. (1995) Science 268:681-686). Its aim is in particular increasing the fatty acid content in seed oils.

The fatty acids which can be obtained from the vegetable oils are also of particular interest. They are employed, for example, as bases for plasticizers, lubricants, surfactants, cosmetics and the like and are employed as valuable bases in the food and feed industries. Thus, for example, it is of particular interest to provide rapeseed oils with fatty acids with medium chain length since these are in demand in particular in the production of surfactants.

The targeted modulation of plant metabolic pathways by recombinant methods allows the modification of the plant metabolism in an advantageous manner which, when using traditional breeding methods, could only be achieved after a complicated procedure or not at all. Thus, unusual fatty acids, for example specific polyunsaturated fatty acids, are only synthesized in certain plants or not at all in plants and can therefore only be produced by expressing the relevant enzyme in transgenic plants (for example Millar et al. (2000) Trends Plant Sci 5:95-101).

Triacylgylcerides and other lipids are synthesized from fatty acids. Fatty acid biosynthesis and triacylglyceride biosynthesis can be considered as separate biosynthetic pathways owing to the compartmentalization, but as a single biosynthetic pathway in view of the end product. Lipid synthesis can be divided into two part-mechanisms, one which might be termed “prokaryotic” and another which may be termed “eukaryotic” (Browse et al. (1986) Biochemical J 235:25-31; Ohlrogge & Browse (1995) Plant Cell 7:957-970). The prokaryotic mechanism is localized in the plastids and encompasses the biosynthesis of the free fatty acids which are exported into the cytosol, where they enter the eukaryotic mechanism in the form of fatty acid acyl-CoA esters and are esterified with glycerol-3-phosphate (.G3P) to give phosphatidic acid (PA). PA is the starting point for the synthesis of neutral and polar lipids. The neutral lipids are synthesized on the endoplasmic reticulum via the Kennedy pathway (voelker (1996) Genetic Engineering, Setlow (ed.) 18:111-113; Shankline & Cahoon (1998) Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol 49:611-649; Frentzen (1998) Lipids 100:161-166). Besides the biosynthesis of triacylglycerides, G3P also plays a role in glycerol synthesis (for example for the purposes of osmoregulation and against low-temperature stress for example).

GP3, which is essential for the synthesis, is synthesized here by the reduction of dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) by means of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH), also termed dihydroxyacetone phosphate reductase. As a rule, NADH acts as reducing cosubstrate (EC 1.1.1.8). A further class of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenases (EC 1.1.99.5) utilizes. FAD as cosubstrate. The enzymes of this class catalyze the reaction of DHAP to G3P. In eukaryotic cells, the two classes of enzymes are distributed in different compartments, those which are NAD-dependent being localized in the cytosol and those which are FAD-dependent being localized in the mitochondria (for Saccharomyces cerevisiae, see, for example, Larsson et al., 1998,. Yeast 14:347-357). EP-A 0 353 049 describes an NAD-independent G3PDH from Bacillus sp. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae too, an NAD-independent G3PDH is identified (Miyata K, Nagahisa M (1969) Plant Cell Physiol 10(3):635-643).

G3PDH is an essential enzyme in prokaryotes and eukaryotes which, besides having a function in lipid biosynthesis, is one of the enzymes responsible for maintaining the cellular redox status by acting on the NAD+/NADH ratio. Deletion of the GPD2 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (one of two G3PDH isoforms in this yeast) results in reduced growth under anaerobic conditions. In addition, G3PDH appears to play a role in the stress response of yeast mainly to osmotic stress. Deletion of the GPD1 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae causes hypersensitivity to sodium chloride.

Sequences for G3PDHs have been described for insects (Drosophila melanogaster, Drosophila virilis), plants (Arabidopsis thaliana, Cuphea lanceolata), mammals (Homo sapiens, Mus musculus, Sus scrofa, Rattus norvegicus), fish (Salmo salar, Osmerus mordax), birds (Ovis aries), amphibians (Xenopus laevis), nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans), algae and bacteria.

Plant cells have at least two G3PDH isoforms, a cytoplasmic isoform and a plastid isoform (Gee R W et al. (1988) Plant Physiol 86:98-103; Gee R W et al. (1988) Plant Physiol 87:379-383). In plants, the enxymatic activity of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was first found in potato tubors (Santora G T et al. (1979) Arch Biochem Biophys 196:403-411). Further G3PDH activities which were localized in the cytosol and the plastids were detected in other plants such as peas, maize or soya (Gee R W et al. (1988) PLANT PHYSIOL 86(1): 98-103). G3PDHs from algae such as, for example, two plastid G3PDH isoforms and one cytosolic G3PDH isoform from Dunaliella tertiolecta have furthermore been described (Gee R et al.(1993) Plant Physiol 103(1):243-249; Gee R et al. (1989) PLANT PHYSIOL 91(1):345-351). As regards the plant G3PDH from Cuphea lanceolata, it has been proposed to obtain an increased oil content or a shift in the fatty acid pattern-by overexpression in plants (WO 95/06733). However, such effects have not been proven.

Bacterial G3PDHs and their function have been described (Hsu and Fox (1970) J Bacteriol 103:410-416; Bell (1974) J Bacterial 117:1065-1076).

WO 01/21820 describes the heterologous expression of a mutated E. coli G3PDH for increased stress tolerance and modification of the fatty acid composition in storage oils. The muttated E. coli G3PDH (gpsA2FR) exhibits a single amino acid substitution which brings about reduced inhibition via G3P. The heterologous expression of the gpsA2FR mutant leads to glycerolipids with an increased C16 fatty acid content and, accordingly, a reduced C18 fatty acid content. The modifications in the fatty acid pattern are relatively minor: an increase of 2 to 5% in the 16:0 fatty acids and of 1.5 to 3.5% in the 16:3 fatty acids, and a reduction in 18:2 and 18:3 fatty acids by 2 to 5% were observed. The total glycerolipid content remained unaffected.

G3PDHs from yeasts (Ascomycetes) such as

-   -   a) Schizosaccharomyces pombe (Pidoux A L et al. (1990) Nucleic         Acids Res 18 (23): 7145; GenBank Acc.-No.: X56162; Ohmiya R et         al. (1995) Mol Microbiol 18(5):963-73; GenBank Acc.-No.: D50796,         D50797),     -   b) Yarrowia lipolytica (GenBank Acc.-No.: AJ250328)     -   c) Zygosaccharomyces rouxii (Iwaki T et al. Yeast (2001)         18(8):737-44; GenBank Acc.-No: AB047394, AB047395, AB047397) or     -   d) Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Albertyn J et al. (1994) Mol Cell         Biol 14(6):4135-44; Albertyn J et al. (1992) FEBS LETT         308(2):130-132; Merkel J R et al. (1982) Anal Biochem 122         (1):180-185; Wang H T et al. (1994) J Bacteriol. 176(22):7091-5;         Eriksson P et al. (1995) Mol Microbiol. 17(1):95-107; GenBank         Acc.-No.: U04621, X76859, Z35169).     -   e) Emericella nidulans (GenBank Acc.-No.: AF228340)     -   f) Debaryomyces hansenii (GenBank Acc.-No.: AF210060) are         furthermore described.

It is an object of the present invention to provide alternative methods for increasing the oil content in plants. We have found that this object is achieved by the present invention.

A first subject matter of the invention comprises a method of increasing the total oil content in a plant organism or a tissue, organ, part, cell or propagation material thereof, comprising

-   -   a) the transgenic expression of yeast glycerol-3-phosphate         dehydrogenase in said plant organism or in a tissue, organ,         part, cell or propagation material thereof, and     -   b) the selection of plant organisms in which—in contrast to or         comparison with the starting organism—the total oil content in         said plant organism or in a tissue, organ, part, cell or         propagation material thereof is increased.

Surprisingly, it has been found that the seed-specific heterologous expression of the yeast protein Gpd1p (G3PDH from Saccharomyces cerevisiae; SEQ ID NO: 2) in Arabidopsis seeds leads to a significantly increased triacylglyceride (storage oils) content. The oil content was increased by approximately 22%, in a transgenic line even by 41%, compared with wild-type control plants (see FIG. 1). The transgenic expression of the yeast glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase had no adverse effects on the growth or other properties of the transformed plants. Since G3PDH is a biosynthetic key enzyme in all plant organisms, the method according to the invention can be applied in principle to all plant species, in addition to the species Arabidopsis thaliana, which is employed as model plant. The method according to the invention is preferably applied to oil crops whose oil content is already naturally high and/or for the industrial production of oils.

“Plant” organism or tissue, organ, part, cell or propagation material thereof” is generally understood as meaning any single- or multi-celled organism or a cell, tissue, part or propagation material (such as seeds or fruit) of same which is capable of photosynthesis. Included for the purpose of the invention are all genera and species of higher and lower plants of the Plant Kingdom. Annual, perennial, monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants are preferred. Also included are mature plants, seeds, shoots and seedlings, and parts, propagation material (for example tubors, seeds or fruits) and cultures derived from them, for example cell cultures or callus cultures.

For the purposes of the invention, “plant” refers to all genera and species of higher and lower plants of the Plant Kingdom. The term includes the mature plants, seeds, shoots and seedlings, and parts, propagation material, plant organ tissue, protoplasts, callus and other cultures, for example cell cultures, derived from them, and all other species of groups of plant cells giving functional or structural units. Mature plants refers to plants at any developmental stage beyond the seedling. Seedling refers to a young, immature-plant at an early developmental stage.

“Plant” encompasses all annual and perennial monocotyldedonous or dicotyledonous plants and includes by way of example, but not by limitation, those of the genera Cucurbita, Rosa, Vitis, Juglans, Fragaria, Lotus, Medicago, Onobrychis, Trifolium, Trigonella, Vigna, Citrus, Linum, Geranium, Manihot, Daucus, Arabidopsis, Brassica, Raphanus, Sinapis, Atropa, Capsicum, Datura, Hyoscyamus, Lycopersicon, Nicotiana, Solarium, Petunia, Digitalis, Majorana, Cichorium, Helianthus, Lactuca, Bromus, Asparagus, Antirrhinum, Heterocallis, Nemesis, Pelargonium, Panieum, Pennisetum, Ranunculus, Senecio, Salpiglossis, Cucumis,

Browaalia, Glycine, Pisum, Phaseolus, Lolium, Oryza, Zea, Avena, Hordeum, Secale, Triticum, Sorghum, Picea and Populus.

Preferred plants are those from the following plant families: Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Carophyllaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Compositae, Cruciferae, Cucurbitaceae, Labiatae, Leguminosae, Papilionoideae, Liliaceae, Linaceae, Malvaceae, Rosaceae, Rubiaceae, Saxifragaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Solanaceae, Sterculiaceae, Tetragoniaceae, Theaceae, Umbelliferae.

Preferred monocotyledonous plants are selected in particular from the monocotyledonous crop plants such as, for example, the Gramineae family, such as rice, maize, wheat or other cereal species such as barley, millet and sorghum, rye, triticale or oats, and sugar cane, and all grass species.

The invention is applied very particularly preferably from dicotyledonous plant organisms. Preferred dicotyledonous plants are selected in particular from the dicotyledonous crop plants such as, for example,

-   -   Asteraceae such as sunflower, tagetes or calendula and others,     -   Compositae, especially the genus Lactuca, very particularly the         species sativa (lettuce) and others,     -   Cruciferae, particularly the genus Brassica, very particularly         the specis napus (oilseed rape), campestris (beet), oleracea cv         Tastie (cabbage), oleracea cv Snowball Y (cauliflower) and         oleracea cv Emperor (broccoli) and other cabbages; and the genus         Arabidopsis, very particularly the species thaliana, and cress         or canola and others,     -   Cucurbitaceae such as melon, pumpkin/squash or zucchini and         others,     -   Leguminosae, particularly the genus Glycine, very particularly         the species max (soybean), soya, and alfalfa, pea, beans or         peanut and others,     -   Rubiaceae, preferably the subclass Lamiidae such as, for example         Coffea arabica or Coffea liberica (coffee bush) and others,     -   Solanaceae, particularly the genus Lycopersicon, very         particularly the species esculentum (tomato), the genus Solanum,         very particularly the species tuberosum (potato) and melongena         (aubergine) and the genus Capsicum, very particularly the genus         annuum (pepper) and tobacco or paprika and others,     -   Sterculiaceae, preferably the subclass Dilleniidae such as, for         example, Theobroma cacao (cacao bush) and others,     -   Theaceae, preferably the subclass Dilleniidae such as, for         example, Camellia sinensis or Thea sinensis (tea shrub) and         others,     -   Umbelliferae, particularly the genus Daucus (very particularly         the species carota (carrot)) and Apium (very particularly the         species graveolens dulce (celery)) and others;         and linseed, cotton, hemp, flax, cucumber, spinach, carrot,         sugar beet and the various tree, nut and grapevine species, in         particular banana and kiwi fruit.

Also encompassed are ornamental plants, useful or ornamental trees, flowers, cut flowers, shrubs or turf. Plants which may be mentioned by way of example but not by limitation are angiosperms, bryophytes such as, for example, Hepaticae (liver flowers) and Musci (mosses); pteridophytes such as ferns, horsetail and clubmosses; gymnosperms such as conifers, cycads, ginkgo and Gnetatae, the families of the Rosaceae such as rose, Ericaceae such as rhododendron and azalea, Euphorbiaceae such as poinsettias and croton, Caryophyllaceae such as pinks, Solanaceae such as petunias, Gesneriaceae such as African violet, Balsaminaceae such as touch-me-not, Orchidaceae such as orchids, Iridaceae such as gladioli, iris, freesia and crocus, Compositae such as marigold, Geraniaceae such as geranium, Liliaceae such as dracena, Moraceae such as ficus, Araceae such as cheeseplant and many others.

Furthermore, plant organisms for the purposes of the invention are further organisms capable of being photosynthetically active such as, for example, algae, cyanobacteria and mosses. Preferred algae are green algae such as, for example, algae from the genus Haematococcus, Phaedactylum tricornatum, Volvox or Dunaliella. Synechocystis is particularly preferred.

Most preferred are oil crops. Oil crops are understood as being plants whose oil content is already naturally high and/or which can be used for the industrial production of oils. These plants can have a high oil content and/or else a particular fatty acid composition which is of interest industrially. Preferred plants are those with a lipid content of at least 1% by weight. Oil crops encompass by way of example: Borago officinalis (borage); Brassica species such as B. campestris, B. napus, B. rapa (mustard, oilseed rape or turnip rape); Cannabis sativa (hemp); Carthamus tinctorius (safflower); Cocos nucifera (coconut); Crambe abyssinica (crambe); Cuphea species (Cuphea species yield fatty acids of medium chain length, in particular for industrial applications); Elaeis guinensis (African oil palm); Elaeis oleifera (American oil palm); Glycine max (soybean); Gossypium hirsutum (American cotton); Gossypium barbadense (Egyptian cotton); Gossypium herbaceum (Asian cotton); Helianthus annuus (sunflower); Linum usitatissimum (linseed or flax); Oenothera biennis (evening primrose); Olea europaea (olive); Oryza sativa (rice); Ricinus communis (castor); Sesamum indicum (sesame); Triticum species (wheat); Zea mays (maize), and various nut species such as, for example, walnut or almond.

“Total. oil content” refers to the sum of all oils, preferably to the sum of the triacylglycerides.

“Oils” encompasses neutral and/or polar lipids and mixtures of these. Those mentioned in Table 1 may be mentioned by way of example, but not by limitation. TABLE 1 Classes of plant lipids Neutral lipids Triacylglycerol (TAG) Diacylglycerol (DAG) Monoacylglycerol (MAG) Polar lipids Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) Digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) Phosphatidylcholine (PC) Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) Phosphatidylinositol (PI) Phosphatidylserine (PS) Sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol

Neutral lipids preferably refers to triacylglycerides. Both neutral and polar lipids may comprise a wide range of various fatty acids. The fatty acids mentioned in Table 2 may be mentioned by way of example, but not by limitation. TABLE 2 Overview over various fatty acids (selection) Nomenclature¹ Name 16:0 Palmitic acid 16:1 Palmitoleic acid 16:3 Roughanic acid 18:0 Stearic acid 18:1 Oleic acid 18:2 Linoleic acid 18:3 Linolenic acid γ-18:3 Gamma-linolenic acid * 20:0 Arachidic acid 22:6 Docosahexanoic acid (DHA) * 20:2 Eicosadienoic acid 20:4 Arachidonic acid (AA) * 20:5 Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) * 22:1 Erucic acid ¹Chain length: number of double bonds * not naturally occurring in plants

Oils preferably relates to seed oils.

“Increase in” the total oil content refers to the increased oil content in a plant or a part, tissue or organ thereof, preferably in the seed organs of the plants. In this context, the oil content is at least 5%, preferably at least 10%, particularly preferably at least 15%, very particularly preferably at least 20%, most preferably at least 25% increased under otherwise identical conditions in comparison with a starting plant which has not been subjected to the method according to the invention, but is otherwise unmodified. Conditions in this context means all of the conditions which are relevant for germination, culture or growth of the plant, such as soil conditions, climatic conditions, light conditions, fertilization, irrigation, plant protection treatment and the like.

“Yeast glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase” (termed “yeast G3PDH” hereinbelow) generally refers to all those enzymes which are capable of converting dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) into glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) - preferably using a cosubstrate such as NADH—and which are naturally expressed in a yeast.

Yeast refers to the group of unicellular fungi with a pronounced cell wall and formation of pseudomycelium (in contrast to molds). They reproduce vegetatively by budding and/or fission (Schizosaccharomyces and Saccharomycodes, respectively).

Encompassed are what are known as false yeasts, preferably the families Cryptococcaceae, Sporobolomycetaceae with the genera Cryptococcus, Torulopsis, Pityrosporum, Brettanomyces, Candida, Kloeckera, Trigonopsis, Trichosporon, Rhodotorula and Sporobolomyces and Bullera, and true yeasts (yeasts which also reproduce sexually; ascus), preferably the families endo- and saccharomycetaceae, with the genera Saccharomyces, Debaromyces, Lipomyces, Hansenula, Endomycopsis, Pichia, Hanseniaspora. Most preferred are the genera Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia pastoris, Hansenula polymorpha, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Kluyveromyces lactis, Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, Yarrowia lipolitica, Emericella nidulans, Aspergillus nidulans, Debaryomyces hansenii and Torulaspora hansenii.

Yeast G3PDH refers in particular to polypeptides which have the following characteristics as “essential characteristics”:

-   -   a) the conversion of dihydroxyacetone phosphate into         glycerol-3-phosphate using NADH as cosubstrate (EC 1.1.1.8), and

b) a peptide sequence encompassing at least one sequence motif selected from the group of sequence motifs consisting of i) GSGNWGT(A/T)IAK (SEQ ID NO: 22) ii) CG(V/A)LSGAN(L/I/V)AXE(V/I)A (SEQ ID NO: 26) iii) (L/V)FXRPYFXV (SEQ ID NO: 27)

preferred is the sequence motif selected from the group consisting of iv) GSGNWGTTIAKV(V/I)AEN (SEQ ID NO: 29) v) NT(K/R)HQNVKYLP (SEQ ID NO: 30) vi) D(I/V)LVFN(I/V)PHQFL (SEQ ID NO: 31) vii) RA(I/V)SCLKGFE (SEQ ID NO: 32) viii) CGALSGANLA(P/T)EVA (SEQ ID NO: 33) ix) LFHRPYFHV (SEQ ID NO: 34) x) GLGEII(K/R)FG (SEQ ID NO: 35) the peptide sequence particularly preferably comprises at least 2 or 3, very particularly preferably at least 4 or 5, most preferably all of the sequence motifs selected from the group of the sequence motifs i), ii) and iii) or selected from the group of the sequence motifs iv), v), vi), vii), viii), ix) and xiv). (Terms in brackets refer to amino acids which are possible at this position as alternatives; for example (V/I) means that valin or isoleucin are possible at this position).

Moreover, a yeast G3PDH may optionally comprise—in addition to at least one of the abovementioned sequence motifs i) to x)—further sequence motifs selected from the group consisting of (SEQ ID NO: 23) xi) H(E/Q)NVKYL (SEQ ID NO: 24) xii) (D/N)(I/V)(L/I)V(F/W)(V/N)(L/I/V)PHQF(V/L/I) (SEQ ID NO: 25) xiii) (A/G)(I/V)SC(L/I)KG (SEQ ID NO: 28) xiv) G(L/M)(L/G)E(M/I)(I/Q)(R/K/N)F(G/S/A)

Most preferably, yeast G3PDH refers to the yeast protein Gpdlp as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and functional equivalents or else functionally equivalent portions of the above.

Functional equivalents refers in particular to natural or artificial mutations of the yeast protein Gpdlp as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and homologous polypeptides from other yeasts which have the same essential characteristics of a yeast G3PDH as defined above. Mutations encompass substitutions, additions, deletions, inversions or insertions of one or more amino acid residues. Especially preferred are the polypeptides described by SEQ ID NO: 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 38 or 40.

The yeast G3PDH to be employed advantageously within the scope of the present invention can be found readily by database searches or by screening gene or cDNA libraries using the yeast G3PDH sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, which is given by way of example, or the nucleic acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, which encodes the latter, as search sequence or probe.

Said functional equivalents preferably have at least 60%, particularly preferably at least 70%, particularly preferably at least 80%, most preferably at least 90% homology with the protein ith the SEQ ID NO: 2.

Homology between two polypeptides is understood as meaning the identity of the amino acid sequence over the entire sequence length which is calculated by comparison with the aid of the program algorithm GAP (Wisconsin Package Version 10.0, University of Wisconsin, Genetics Computer Group (GCG), Madison, USA), setting the following parameters:

-   -   Gap Weight: 8 Length Weight: 2     -   Average Match: 2,912 Average Mismatch: −2,003

For example, a sequence with at least 80% homology with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 2 at the protein level is understood as meaning a sequence which, upon comparison with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 2 with the above program algorithm and the above parameter set has at least 80% homology.

Functional equivalents also encompasses those proteins which are encoded by nucleic acid sequences which have at least 60%, particularly preferably at least 70%, particularly preferably at least 80%, most preferably at least 90% homology with the nucleic acid sequence with the SEQ ID NO: 1.

Homology between two nucleic acid sequences is understood as meaning the identity of the two nucleic acid sequences over the entire sequence length which is calculated by comparison with the aid of the program algorithm GAP (Wisconsin Package Version 10.0, University of Wisconsin, Genetics Computer Group (GCG), Madison, USA), setting the following parameters: Gap Weight: 50 Length Weight: 3 Average Match: 10 Average Mismatch: 0

For example, a sequence which has at least 80% homology with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 at the nucleic acid level is understood as meaning a sequence which, upon comparison with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 with the above program algorithm with-the above. parameter set has a homology of at least 80%.

Functional equivalents also encompass those proteins which are encoded by nucleic acid sequences which hybridize under standard conditions with a nucleic acid sequence described by SEQ ID NO: 1, the nucleic acid sequence which is complementary thereto or parts of the above and which have the essential characteristics for a yeast G3PDH.

“Standard hybridization conditions” is to be understood in the broad sense, but preferably refers to stringent hybridization conditions. Such hybridization conditions are described, for example, by Sambrook J, Fritsch EF, Maniatis T et al., in Molecular Cloning (A Laboratory Manual), 2nd edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1989, pages 9.31-9.57) or in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, N.Y. (1989), 6.3.1-6.3.6. For example, the conditions during the wash step can be selected from the range of high-stringency conditions (with approximately 0.2×SSC at 50° C., preferably at 65° C.) (20×SSC: 0.3 M sodium citrate, 3 M NaCl, pH 7.0). Denaturing agents such as, for example, formamide or SDS may also be employed during hybridization. In the presence of 50% formamide, hybridization is preferably carried out at 42° C.

The invention furthermore relates to transgenic expression constructs which can ensure a transgenic expression of a yeast G3PDH in a plant organism or a tissue, organ, part, cells or propagation material of said plant organism.

The definition given above applies to yeast G3PDH, with the transgenic expression of a yeast G3PDH described by the sequence with the SEQ ID NO: 2 being particularly preferred.

In said transgenic expression constructs, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a yeast G3PDH is preferably in operable linkage with at least one genetic control element (for example a promoter) which ensures expression in a plant organism or a tissue, organ, part, cell or propagation material of same.

Especially preferred are transgenic expression cassettes wherein the nucleic acid sequence encoding a glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase is described by

-   -   a) a sequence with the SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 37 or         39, or     -   30 b) a sequence derived from a sequence with the SEQ ID NO: 1,         3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 37 or 39 in accordance with the degeneracy         of the genetic code     -   c) a sequence which has at least 60% identity with the sequence         with the SEQ ID NO: 1.

Operable linkage is understood as meaning, for example, the sequential arrangement of a promoter with the nucleic acid sequence encoding a yeast G3PDH which is to be expressed (for example the sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1) and, if appropriate, further regulatory elements such as, for example, a terminator in such a way that each of the regulatory elements can fulfil its function when the nucleic acid sequence is expressed recombinantly. Direct linkage in the chemical sense is not necessarily required for this purpose. Genetic control sequences such as, for example, enhancer sequences can also exert their function on the target sequence from positions which are further removed or indeed from other DNA molecules. Preferred arrangements are those in which the nucleic acid sequence to be expressed recombinantly is positioned behind the sequence acting as promoter so that the two sequences are linked covalently to each other. The distance between the promoter sequence and the nucleic acid sequence to be expressed recombinantly is preferably less than 200 base pairs, particularly preferably less than 100 base pairs, very particularly preferably less than 50 base pairs.

Operable linkage and a transgenic expression cassette can both be effected by means of conventional recombination and cloning techniques as they are described, for example, in Maniatis T, Fritsch E F and Sambrook J (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor (N.Y.), in Silhavy T J, Berman M L und Enquist L W (1984) Experiments with Gene Fusions, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor (N.Y.), in Ausubel F M et al. (1987) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing Assoc. and Wiley Interscience and in Gelvin et al. (1990) In: Plant Molecular Biology Manual. However, further sequences which, for example, act as a linker with specific cleavage sites for restriction enzymes, or of a signal peptide, may also be positioned between the two sequences. Also, the insertion of sequences may lead to the expression of fusion proteins. Preferably, the expression cassette composed of a promoter linked to a nucleic acid sequence to be expressed can be in a vector-integrated form and can be inserted into a plant genome, for example by transformation.

However, a transgenic expression cassette is also understood as meaning those constructs where the nucleic acid sequence encoding a yeast G3PDH is placed behind an endogenous plant promoter in such a way that the latter brings about the expression of the yeast G3PDH.

Promoters which are preferably introduced into the transgenic expression cassettes are those which are operable in a plant organism or a tissue, organ, part, cell or propagation material of same. Promoters which are operable in plant organisms is understood as meaning any promoter which is capable of governing the expression of genes, in particular foreign genes, in plants or plant parts, plant cells, plant tissues or plant cultures. In this context, expression may be, for example, constitutive, inducible or development-dependent.

The following are preferred:

-   -   a) Constitutive promoters         -   “Constitutive” promoters refers to those-promoters which             ensure expression in a large number of, preferably all,             tissues over a substantial period of plant development,             preferably at all times during plant development (Benfey et             al.(1989) EMBO J 8:2195-2202). A plant promoter or promoter             originating from a plant virus is especially preferably             used. The promoter of the CaMV (cauliflower mosaic virus)             35S transcript (Franck et al. (1980) Cell 21:285-294; Odell             et al. (1985) Nature 313:810-812; Shewmaker et al. (1985)             Virology 140:281-288; Gardner et al. (1986) Plant Mol Biol             6:221- 228) or the 19S CaMV promoter (U.S. Pat. No.             5,352,605; WO 84/02913; Benfey et al. (1989) EMBO J             8:2195-2202) are especially preferred. Another suitable             constitutive promoter is the Rubisco small subunit (SSU)             promoter (U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,028), the leguminB promoter             (GenBank Acc. No. X03677), the promoter of the nopalin             synthase from Agrobacterium, the TR dual promoter, the OCS             (octopine synthase) promoter from Agrobacterium, the             ubiquitin promoter (Holtorf S et al. (1995) Plant Mol Biol             29:637-649), the ubiquitin 1 promoter (Christensen et             al. (1992) Plant Mol Biol 18:675-689; Bruce et al. (1989)             Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 86:9692-9696), the Smas promoter, the             cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase promoter (U.S. Pat. No.             5,683,439), the promoters of the vacuolar ATPase subunits,             the promoter of the Arabidopsis thaliana nitrilase-1 gene             (GenBank Acc. No.: U38846, nucleotides 3862 to 5325 or             else 5342) or the promoter of a proline-rich protein from             wheat (WO 91/13991), and further promoters of genes whose             constitutive expression in plants is known to the skilled             worker. The CaMV 35S promoter and the Arabidopsis thaliana             nitrilase-1 promoter are particularly preferred.     -   b) Tissue-specific promoters         -   Furthermore preferred are promoters with specificities for             seeds, such as, for example, the phaseolin promoter (U.S.             Pat. No. 5,504,200; Bustos M M et al. (1989) Plant Cell             1.(9):839-53), the promoter of the 2S albumin gene             (Joseffson L G et al. (1987) J Biol Chem 262:12196- 12201),             the legumine promoter (Shirsat A et al. (1989) Mol Gen Genet             215(2):326-331), the USP (unknown seed protein) promoter             (Baumlein H et al. (1991) Mol Gen Genet 225(3):459-67), the             napin gene promoter (U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,152; Stalberg K et             al. (1996) L Planta 199:515-519), the promoter of the             sucrose binding proteins (WO 00/26388) or the legumin B4             promoter (LeB4; Baumlein H et al. (1991) Mol Gen Genet 225:             121-128; Baumlein et al. (1992) Plant Journal 2(2):233-9;             Fiedler U et al. (1995) Biotechnology (NY) 13(10);:1090f),             the Arabidopsis oleosin promoter (WO 98/45461),, and the             Brassica Bce4 promoter (Wo 91/13980).         -   Further suitable seed-specific promoters are those of the             gene encoding high-molecular weight glutenin (HMWG),             gliadin, branching enyzme, ADP glucose pyrophosphatase             (AGPase) or starch synthase. Promoters which are furthermore             preferred are those -which permit a seed-specific expression             in monocots such as maize, barley, wheat, rye, rice and the             like. The promoter of the lpt2 or lptl gene (WO 95/15389, WO             95/23230) or the promoters described in WO 99/16890             (promoters of the hordein gene, the glutelin gene, the             oryzin gene, the prolamin gene, the gliadin gene, the             glutelin gene, the zein gene, the casirin gene or the             secalin gene) can advantageously be employed.     -   c) Chemically inducible promoters         -   The expression cassettes may also contain a chemically             inducible promoter (review article: Gatz et al. (1997) Annu             Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol 48:89-108), by means of             which the expression of the exogenous gene in the plant can             be controlled at a particular point in time. Such promoters             such as, for example, the PRP1 promoter (Ward et al. (1993)             Plant Mol Biol 22:361-366), a salicylic acid-inducible             promoter (WO 95/19443), a benzenesulfonamide-inducible             promoter (EP 0 388 186), a tetracyclin-inducible promoter             (Gatz et al. (1992) Plant J 2:397-404), an abscisic             acid-inducible promoter EP 0 335 528) or an             ethanol-cyclohexanone-inducible promoter (WO 93/21334) can             likewise be used. Also suitable is the promoter of the             glutathione-S transferase isoform II gene (GST-II-27), which             can be activated by exogenously applied safeners such as,             for example, N,N-diallyl-2,2-dichloroacetamide (WO 93/01294)             and which is operable in a large number of tissues of both             monocots and dicots.

Particularly preferred are constitutive promoters, very particularly preferred seed-specific promoters, in particular the napin promoter and the USP promoter.

In addition, further promoters which make possible expression in further plant tissues or in other organisms such as, for example, E. coli bacteria, may be linked operably with the nucleic acid sequence-to be expressed. Suitable plant promoters are, in principle, all of the above-described promoters.

The nucleic acid sequences present in the transgenic expression cassettes according to the invention or transgenic vectors can be linked operably with further genetic control sequences besides a promoter. The term genetic control sequences is to be understood in the broad sense and refers to all those sequences which have an effect on the establishment or the function of the expression cassette according to the invention. Genetic control sequences modify, for example, transcription and translation in prokaryotic or eukaryotic organisms. The transgenic expression cassettes according to the invention preferably encompass a plant-specific promoter 5′-upstream of the nucleic acid sequence to be expressed recombinantly in each case and, as additional genetic control sequence, a terminator sequence 3′-downstream, and, if appropriate, further customary regulatory elements, in each case linked operably with the nucleic acid sequence to be expressed recombinantly.

Genetic control sequences also encompass further promoters, promoter elements or minimal promoters capable of modifying the expression-controlling properties. Thus, genetic control sequences can, for example, bring about tissue-specific expression which is additionally dependent on certain stress factors. Such elements are, for example, described for water stress, abscisic acid (Lam E and Chua N H, J Biol Chem 1991; 266(26): 17131 -17135) and thermal stress (Schoffl F et al. (1989) Mol Gen Genetics 217(2-3):246-53).

Further advantageous control sequences are, for example, in the Gram-positive promoters amy and SPO2, and in the yeast or fungal promoters ADC1, MFa,- AC, P-60, CYC1, GAPDH, TEF, rp28, ADH.

In principle all natural promoters with their regulatory sequences like those mentioned above may be used for the method according to the invention. In addition, synthetic promoters may also be used advantageously.

Genetic control sequences further also encompass the 5′-untranslated regions, introns or nonencoding 3′-region of genes, such as, for example, the actin-1 intron, or the Adhl-S intron 1, 2 and 6 (for general reference, see: The Maize Handbook, Chapter 116, Freeling and Walbot, Eds., Springer, N.Y. (1994)). It has been demonstrated that these may play a significant role in regulating gene expression. Thus, it has been demonstrated that 5′-untranslated sequences can enhance the transient expression of heterologous genes. Translation enhancers which may be mentioned by way of example are the tobacco mosaic virus 5′ leader sequence (Gallie et al. (1987) Nucl Acids Res 15:8693-8711) and the like. They may furthermore promote tissue specificity (Rouster J et al. (1998) Plant J 15:435-440).

The transient expression cassette can advantageously contain one or more of what are known as enhancer sequences in operable linkage with the promoter, and these make possible an increased recombinant expression of the nucleic acid sequence. Additional advantageous sequences such as further regulatory elements or terminators may also be inserted at the 3′ end of the nucleic acid sequences to be expressed recombinantly. One or more copies of the nucleic acid sequences to be expressed recombinanly may be present in the gene construct.

Polyadenylation signals which are suitable as control sequences are plant polyadenylation signals, preferably those which correspond essentially to Agrobacterium-tumefaciens T-DNA polyadenylati-on signals, in particular those of gene 3 of the T-DNA (octopine synthase) of the Ti plasmid pTiACHS (Gielen et al. (1984) EMBO J 3:835 et seq.) or functional equivalents thereof. Examples of particularly suitable terminator sequences are the OCS (octopin synthase) terminator and the NOS (nopaline synthase) terminator.

Control sequences are furthermore understood as those which make possible homologous recombination or insertion into the genome of a host organism, or removal from the genome. In the case of homologous recombination, for example, the coding sequence of the specific endogenous gene can be exchanged in a directed fashion for a sequence encoding a dsRNA. Methods such as the cre/lox technology permit the tissue-specific, possibly inducible, removal of the expression cassette from the genome of the host organism (Sauer B (1998) Methods. 14(4):381-92). Here, certain flanking sequences are added to the target gene (lox sequences), and these make possible removal by means of cre recombinase at a later point in time.

A recombinant expression cassette and the recombinant vectors derived from it may comprise further functional elements. The term functional element is to be understood in the broad sense and refers to all those elements which have an effect on generation, replication or function of the expression cassettes, vectors or transgenic organisms according to the invention.

Examples which may be mentioned, but not by way of limitation, are:

-   -   a) Selection markers which confer resistance to a metabolism         inhibitor such as 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate (WO 98/45456),         antibiotics or biocides, preferably herbicides, such as, for         example, kanamycin, G 418, bleomycin, hygromycin, or         phosphinothricin and the like. Particularly preferred selection         markers are those which confer resistance to herbicides. The         following may be mentioned by way of example: DNA sequences         which encode phosphinothricin acetyltransferases (PAT) and which         inactivate glutamine synthase inhibitors (bar and pat gene),         5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase genes (EPSP synthase         genes), which confer resistance to Glyphosate®         (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine), the gox gene, which encodes         Glyphosate®-degrading enzyme (Glyphosate oxidoreductase), the         deh gene (encoding a dehalogenase which inactivates dalapon),         sulfonylurea- and imidazolinone-inactivating acetolactate         synthases, and bxn genes which encode nitrilase enzymes which         degrade bromoxynil, the aasa gene, which confers resistance to         the antibiotic apectinomycin, the streptomycin         phosphotransferase (SPT) gene, which permits resistance to         streptomycin, the neomycin phosphotransferase (NPTII) gene,         which confers resistance to kanamycin or geneticidin, the         hygromycin phosphotransferase (HPT) gene, which confers         resistance to hygromycin, the acetolactate synthase gene (ALS),         which confers resistance to sulfonylurea herbicides (for example         mutated ALS variants with, for example, the S4 and/or Hra         mutation).     -   b) Reporter genes which encode readily quantifiable proteins and         which allow the transformation efficacy or the expression site         or time to be assessed via their color or enzyme activity. Very         particularly preferred in this context are reporter proteins         (Schenborn E, Groskreutz D. Mol Biotechnol. 1999; 13(1):29-44)         such as the “green fluorescence protein” (GFP) (Sheen et         al.(1995) Plant Journal 8(5):777-784), chloramphenicol         transferase, a luciferase (Ow et al. (1986) Science         234:856-859), the aequorin gene (Prasher et al. (1985) Biochem         Biophys Res Commun 126(3):1259-1268), β-galactosidase, with         β-glucuronidase being very particularly preferred (Jefferson et         al. (1987) EMBO J 6:3901-3907).     -   c) Replication origins which allow replication of the expression         cassettes or vectors according to the invention in, for         example, E. coli. Examples which may be mentioned are ORI         (origin of DNA replication), the pBR322 ori or the P15A ori         (Sambrook et al.: Molecular Cloning. A Laboratory Manual, 2nd         ed. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor,         N.Y., 1989).     -   d) Elements which are required for agrobacterium-mediated plant         transformation such as, for example, the right or left border of         the T-DNA, or the vir region.

To select cells which have successfully undergone homologous recombination or else cells which have succesfully been transformed, it is generally required additionally to introduce a selectable marker which confers resistance to a biocide (for example a herbicide), a metabolism inhibitor such as 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate (WO 98/45456) or an antibiotic to the cells which have successfully undergone recombination. The selection marker permits the selection of the transformed cells from untransformed cells (McCormick et al. (1986) Plant Cell Reports 5:81-84).

In addition, said recombinant expression cassette or vectors may comprise further nucleic acid sequences which do not encode a yeast G3PDH and whose recombinant expression leads to a further increase in fatty acid biosynthesis (as a consequence of proOIL). By way of example, but not by limitation, this proOIL nucleic acid sequence which is additionally expressed recombinantly can be selected from among nucleic acids encoding acetyl-COA carboxylase (ACCase), glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT), lysophosphatidate acyltransferase (LPAT), diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DAGAT) and phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (PDAT). Such sequences are known to the skilled worker and are readily accessible from databases or suitable cDNA libraries of the respective plants.

An expression cassette according to the invention can advantageously be introduced into an organism or cells, tissues, organs, parts or seeds thereof (preferably into plants or plant cells, tissues, organs, parts or seeds) by using vectors in which the recombinant expression cassettes are present. The invention therefore furthermore relates to said recombinant vectors which encompass a recombinant expression cassette for a yeast G3PDH.

For example, vectors may be plasmids, cosmids, phages, viruses or else agrobacteria. The expression cassette can be introduced into the vector (preferably a plasmid vector) via a suitable restriction cleavage site. The resulting vector is first introduced into E. coli. Correctly transformed E. coli are selected, grown, and the recombinant vector is obtained with methods known to the skilled worker. Restriction analysis and sequencing may be used for verifying the cloning step. Preferred vectors are those which make possible stable integration of the expression cassette into the host genome.

The invention furthermore relates to transgenic plant organisms or tissues, organs, parts, cells or propagation material thereof which comprise a yeast G3PDH as defined above, a transgenic expression cassette for a yeast G3PDH or a transgenic vector encompassing such an expression cassette.

Such a transgenic plant organism is generated, for example, by means of transformation or transfection by means of the corresponding proteins or nucleic acids. The generation of a transformed organism (or a transformed cell or tissue) requires introducing the DNA in question (for example the expression vector), RNA or protein into the host cell in question. A multiplicity of methods is available for this procedure, which is termed transformation (or transduction or transfection) (Keown et al. (1990) Methods in Enzymology 185:527-537). Thus, the DNA or RNA can be introduced for example directly by microinjection or by bombardment with-DNA-coated microparticles. The cell may also be permeabilized chemically, for example with polyethylene glycol, so that the DNA may reach the cell by diffusion. The DNA can also be carried out by protoplast fusion with other DNA-comprising units such as minicells, cells, lysosomes or liposomes. Electroporation is a further suitable method for introducing DNA; here, the cells are permeabilized reversibly by an electrical pulse. Soaking plant parts in DNA solutions, and pollen or pollen tube transformation, are also possible. Such methods have been described (for example in Bilang et al. (1991) Gene 100:247-250; Scheid et al. (1991) Mol Gen Genet 228:104-112; Guerche et al. (-1987) Plant Science 52:111-116; Neuhause et al. (1987) Theor Appl Genet 75:30-36; Klein et al. (1987) Nature 327:70-73; Howell et al. (1980) Science 208:1265; Horsch et al.(1985) Science 227:1229-1231; DeBlock et al. (1989) Plant Physiology 91:694-701; Methods for Plant Molecular Biology (Weissbach and Weissbach, eds.) Academic Press Inc. (1988); and Methods in Plant Molecular Biology (Schuler and Zielinski, eds.) Academic Press Inc. (1989)).

In plants, the methods which have been described for transforming and regenerating plants from plant tissues or plant cells are exploited for transient or stable transformation. Suitable methods are, in particular, protoplast transformation by polyethylene glycol-induced DNA uptake, the biolistic method with the gene gun, what is known as the particle bombardment method, electroporation, the incubation of dry embryos in DNA-containing solution, and microinjection.

In addition to these “direct” transformation techniques, transformation may also be effected by bacterial infection by means of Agrobacterium tumefaciens or Agrobacterium rhizogenes and the transfer of corresponding recombinant Ti plasmids or Ri plasmids by or by infection with transgenic plant viruses. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is best suited to cells of dicotyledonous plants. The methods are described, for example, in Horsch R B et al. (1985) Science 225: 1229f).

When agrobacteria are used, the expression cassette is to be integrated into specific plasmids, either into a shuttle vector or into a binary vector. If a Ti or Ri plasmid is to be used for the transformation, at least the right border, but in most cases the right and left border, of the Ti or Ri plasmid T-DNA is linked to the expression cassette to be introduced as flanking region.

Binary vectors are preferably used. Binary vectors are capable of replication both in E. coli and in Agrobacterium. As a rule, they contain a selection marker gene and a linker or polylinker flanked by the right and left T-DNA border sequence. They can be transformed directly into Agrobacterium (Holsters et al. (1978) Mol Gen Genet 163:181-187). The selection marker gene, which is, for example, the nptII gene, which confers resistance to kanamycin, permits a selection of transformed agrobacteria. The agrobacterium which acts as host organism in this case should already contain a plasmid with the vir region. The latter is required for transferring-the T-DNA to the plant cells. An agrobacterium transformed in this way can be used for transforming plant cells. The use of T-DNA for the transformation of plant cells has been studied intensively and described (EP 120 516; Hoekema, In: The Binary Plant Vector System, Offsetdrukkerij. Kanters B. V., Alblasserdam, Chapter V; An et al. (1985) EMBO J 4:277-287). Various binary vectors, some of which are commercially available, such as, for example, pBI101.2 or pBIN19 (Clontech Laboratories, Inc. USA), are known.

Further promoters which are suitable for expression in plants have been described (Rogers et al. (1987) Meth in Enzymol 153:253-277; Schardl et al. (1987) Gene 61:1-11; Berger et al. (1989) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 86:8402-8406).

Direct transformation techniques are suitable for any organism and cell type. In cases where DNA or RNA are injected or electroporated into plant cells, the plasmid used need not meet any particular requirements. Simple plasmids such as those from the pUC series may be used. If intact plants are to be regenerated from the transformed cells, it is necessary for an additional selectable marker gene to be present on the plasmid. Stably transformed cells, i.e. those which contain the inserted DNA integrated into the DNA of the host cell, can be selected from untransformed cells when a selectable marker is part of the inserted DNA. By way of example, any gene which is capable of conferring resistance to antibiotics or herbicides (such as kanamycin, G418, bleomycin, hygromycin or phosphinothricin and the like) is capable of acting as marker (see above). Transformed cells which express such a marker gene are capable of surviving in the presence of concentrations of such an antibiotic or herbicide which kill an untransformed wild type. Examples are mentioned above and preferably comprise the bar gene, which confers resistance to the herbicide phosphinothricin (Rathore K S et al. (1993.) Plant Mol Biol 21(5):871-884), the nptII gene, which confers resistance to kanamycin, the hpt gene, which confers resistance to hygromycin, or the EPSP gene, which confers resistance to the herbicide Glyphosate. The selection marker permits selection of transformed cells from untransformed cells (McCormick et al. (1986) Plant Cell Reports 5:81-84). The plants obtained can be bred and hybridized in the customary manner. Two or more generations should be grown in order to ensure that the genomic integration is stable and hereditary.

The above-described methods are described, for example, in Jenes B et al.(.1993) Techniques for Gene Transfer, in: Transgenic Plants, Vol. 1, Engineering and Utilization, edited by S D Kung and R Wu, Academic Press, pp.128-143, and in Potrykus (1991) Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Molec Biol 42:205-225). The construct to be expressed is preferably cloned into a vector which is suitable for transforming Agrobacterium tumefaciens, for example pBinl9 (Bevan et al. (1984) Nucl Acids Res 12:8711f).

Once a transformed plant cell has been generated, an intact plant can be obtained using methods known to the skilled worker. For example, callus cultures are used as starting material. The development of shoot and root can be induced in this as yet undifferentiated cell biomass in the known fashion. The plantlets obtained can be planted out and used for breeding.

The skilled worker is familiar-with such methods for regenerating plant parts and intact plants from plant cells. Methods which can be used for this purpose are, for example, those described by Fennell et al. (1992) Plant Cell Rep. 11: 567-570; Stoeger et al (1995) Plant Cell Rep. 14:273-278,; .Jahne et al. (1994) Theor Appl Genet 89:525-533.

“Transgenic”, for example in the case of a yeast G3PDH, refers to a nucleic acid sequence, an expression cassette or a vector comprising said G3PDH nucleic acid sequence or to an organism transformed with said nucleic acid sequence, expression cassette or vector all those constructs established by recombinant methods in which either

-   -   a) the nucleic acid sequence encoding a yeast G3PDH or     -   b) a genetic control sequence, for example a promoter which is         functional in plant organisms, which is linked operably with         said nucleic acid sequence under a), or     -   c) (a) and (b)         are not in their natural genetic environment or have been         modified by recombinant methods, it being possible for the         modification to be, for example, a substitution, addition,         deletion, inversion or insertion of one or more nucleotide         residues. Natural genetic environment refers to the natural         chromosomal locus in the source organism or the presence in a         genomic library. In the case of a genomic library, the natural         genetic environment of the nucleic acid sequence is preferably         retained, at least to some extent. The environment flanks the         nucleic acid sequence at least on one side and has a sequence         length of at least 50 bp, preferably at least 500 bp,         particularly preferably at least 1000 bp, very particularly         preferably at least 5000 bp. A naturally occurring expression         cassette, for example the naturally occurring combination of the         promoter of a gene encoding for a yeast G3PDH with the         corresponding yeast G3PDH gene, becomes a transgenic expression         cassette when the latter is modified by non-natural, synthetic         (“artificial”) methods such as, for example, a mutagenization.         Such methods are described (U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,350; WO         00/15815; see also above).

Host or starting organisms which are preferred as transgenic organisms are, above all, plants in accordance with the above definition. Included for the purposes of the invention are all genera and species of higher and lower plants of the Plant Kingdom, in particular plants which are used for obtaining oils, such as, for example, oilseed rape, sunflower, sesame, safflower, olive tree, soya, maize, wheat and nut species. Furthermore included are the mature plants, seed, shoots and seedlings, and parts, propagation material and cultures, for example cell cultures, derived therefrom. Mature plants refers to plants at any desired developmental stage beyond the seedling stage. Seedling refers to a young, immature plant at an early developmental stage.

The transgenic organisms can be generated with the above-described methods for the transformation or transfection of organisms.

The invention furthermore relates to the use of the transgenic organisms according to the invention and to the cells, cell cultures, parts—such as, for example, in the case of transgenic plant organisms roots, leaves and the like—and transgenic propagation material such as seeds or fruits which are derived therefrom for the production of foodstuffs or feedstuffs, pharmaceuticals or fine chemicals, in particular oils, fats, fatty acids or derivatives of these.

Besides influencing the oil content, the transgenic expression of a yeast G3PDH in plants may mediate yet further advantageous effects such as, for example, an increased stress resistance to, for example, osmotic stress. Via increased glycerol levels, the yeast G3PDH confers protection against this type of stress, with glycerol acting as osmoprotective substance. Such osmotic stress occurs for example in saline soils and water and is an increasing problem in agriculture. Increased stress tolerance makes it possible, for example, to use areas in which conventional arable plants are not capable of thriving for agricultural usage.

Furthermore, recombinant expression of the yeast G3PDH can influence the NADH level and thus the redox balance in the plant organism. Stress such as, for example, drought, high or low temperatures, UV light and the like can lead to increased NADH levels and to an increased formation of reactive oxygen (RO). Transgenic expression of the yeast G3PDH can break down excessive NADH, which accumulates under said stress conditions, and thus stabilize the redox balance and alleviate the effects of the stress.

Sequences

1. SEQ ID NO: 1

-   -   Nucleic acid sequence encoding Saccharomyces cerevisiae G3PDH         (Gpd1p)

2. SEQ ID NO: 2

-   -   Protein sequence encoding Saccharomyces cerevisiae G3PDH (Gpd1p)

3. SEQ ID NO: 3

-   -   Nucleic acid sequence encoding Saccharomyces cerevisiae G3PDH         (Gpd2p)

4. SEQ ID NO: 4

-   -   Protein sequence encoding Saccharomyces cerevisiae G3PDH (Gpd2p)

5. SEQ ID NO: 5

-   -   Protein sequence encoding Saccharomyces cerevisiae G3PDH (Gpd2p)         with second alternative start codon

SEQ ID NO: 6

-   -   Nucleic acid sequence encoding Schizosaccharomyces pombe G3PDH

7. SEQ ID NO: 7

-   -   Protein sequence encoding Schizosaccharomyces pombe G3PDHD

8. SEQ ID NO: 8

-   -   Nucleic acid sequence encoding Schizosaccharomyces pombe G3PDH

9. SEQ ID NO: 9

-   -   Protein sequence encoding Schizosaccharomyces pombe G3PDH

10. SEQ ID NO: 10

-   -   Nucleic acid sequence encoding Yarrowinia lipolytica G3PDH

11. SEQ ID NO: 11

-   -   Protein sequence encoding Yarrowinia lipolytica G3PDH

12. SEQ ID NO: 12

-   -   Protein sequence encoding Yarrowinia lipolytica G3PDH, with         second alternative start codon

13. SEQ ID NO: 13

-   -   Nucleic acid sequence encoding Zygosaccharomyces rouxii G3PDH

14. SEQ ID NO: 14

-   -   Protein sequence encoding Zygosaccharomyces rouxii G3PDH

15. SEQ ID NO: 15

-   -   Nucleic acid sequence encoding Zygosaccharomyces rouxii G3PDH

16. SEQ ID NO: 16

-   -   Protein sequence encoding Zygosaccharomyces rouxii G3PDH

17. SEQ ID NO: 16

Expression vector based on pSUN-USP for S. cerevisiae G3PDH (Gpd1p; 1017-2190 bp insert) 18. SEQ ID NO: 18 Oligonucleotide primer ONP1 5′-ACTAGTATGTCTGCTGCTGCTGATAG-3′ 19. SEQ ID NO: 19 Oligonucleotide primer ONP2 5′-CTCGAGATCTTCATGTAGATCTAATT-3′ 20. SEQ ID NO: 20 Oligonucleotide primer ONP3 5′-GCGGCCGCCATGTCTGCTGCTGCTGATAG-3′ 21. SEQ ID NO: 21 Oligonucleotide primer ONP4 5′-GCGGCCGCATCTTCATGTAGATCTAATT-3′

22-35: SEQ ID NP 22 to 35: Sequence motifs for yeast G3PDHs;

possible sequence variations are given. The variations of an individual motif may occur in each case alone, but also in the different combinations with each other.

36. SEQ ID NO: 36

-   -   Expression vector pGPTV-gpd1 based on pGPTV-napin for S.         cerevisiae G3PDH (Gpd1p; gdp1 insert of 11962-13137 bp; nos         terminator: 13154-13408; napin promoter: 10807-11951).

37. SEQ ID NO: 37

-   -   Nucleic acid sequence encoding Emericella nidulans G3PDH

38. SEQ ID NO: 38

-   -   Amino acid encoding Emericella nidulans G3PDH

39. SEQ ID NO: 39

-   -   Nucleic acid sequence encoding Debaryomyces hansenii G3PDH         (partial)

40. SEQ ID NO: 40

-   -   Amino acid encoding Debaryomyces hansenii G3PDH (partial)

FIGURES

FIG. 1: Oil content in transgenic GPD1p lines

Measurement of the TAG content in T2 seeds of transgenic Arabidopsis lines with the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Gpd1p gene (G2 to G30). The content in corresponding untransformed plants (wild-type plants; W1 to W10) has been determined for comparison. 8 Arabidopsis lines with a significantly increased oil content were identified. The error deviation stated is the result of 3 independent measurements in each case.

FIG. 2: Determination of the oil content in seeds of the T3 generation

The data shown are the oil content (in mg lipid per g dry matter (DM)) of individual Arabidopsis lines. Each column represents the mean of 6 individual plants per independent line. Each plant was analysed in triplicate. The error bars denote the standard deviation over all values. The control plants are identified by “col”. The numerical values of the individual data are additionally shown in the following table (the control was set as 100% oil content): Rel. Oil content increase in Lines (mg/g) STD % col 278.1 12.2 100 #11 304.6 18.3 110 #12 301.4 19.0 108 #13 275.2 89.7 99 #21 323.2 77.0 116 #24 268.9 15.1 97 #25 293.6 23.0 106 #27 285.6 18.4 103 #41 316.1 19.1 114 #53 260.3 16.4 94 #67 292.0 13.8 105 #71 244.1 11.6 88 #82 295.6 16.8 106

Lines with a statistically significantly increased lipid content (lines #11, #21, #41 and #67) are presented as a black bar.

FIG. 3: Determination of the G3PDH activity in the control (“col”) and the gdpl-transformed plants.

The G3PDG activity of the individual lines was determined as decribed in Example 8 and is shown in nmol G3P per minute per g of fresh weight (FW). | G3PDH Activity STD col 6.68337432 0.71785229 #11 11.8958635 1.67941604 #12 9.14226124 2.25411878 #13 8.8210768 2.19519777 #21 9.88435444 1.04798566 #24 5.89378595 1.26005769 #25 5.14179348 1.22845409 #27 6.77303725 3.22220935 #41 20.8325636 5.42018531 #53 7.45794947 2.25573816 #67 12.7670015 0.74678353 #71 9.04748534 1.59829185 #82 9.37260033 2.1356558 Lines with a statistically significantly increased G3PDH activity (lines #11, #21, #41 and #67) are presented as a black bar. It can be seen that an increased G3PDG activity correlates with an increased lipid content.

EXAMPLES

General Methods:

Unless otherwise specified, all chemicals were from Fluka (Buchs), Merck (Darmstadt), Roth (Karlsruhe), Serva (Heidelberg) and Sigma (Deisenhofen). Restriction enzymes, DNA-modifying enzymes and molecular biological kits were from Amersham-Pharmacia (Freiburg), Biometra (Gbttingen), Roche (Mannheim), New England Biolabs (Schwalbach), Novagen (Madison, Wis., USA), Perkin-Elmer (Weiterstadt), Qiagen (Hilden), Stratagen (Amsterdam, Netherlands), Invitrogen (Karlsruhe) and Ambion (Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom). The reagents used were employed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

For example, oligonucleotides can be synthesized chemically in the known manner using the phosphoamidite method (Voet, Voet, 2nd edition, Wiley Press New York, pages 896-897). The cloning steps carried out for the purposes of the present invention such as, for example, restriction cleavages, agarose gel electrophoreses, purification of DNA fragments, transfer of nucleic acids to nitrocellulose and nylon membranes, linking DNA fragments, transformation of E. coli cells, bacterial cultures, multiplication of phages and sequence analysis of recombinant DNA, are carried out as decribed by Sambrook et al. (1989) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press; ISBN 0-87969-309-6. Recombinant DNA molecules were sequenced using an ABI laser fluorescence DNA sequencer following the method of Sanger (Sanger et al. (1977) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 74:5463-5467).

Example 1 General Methods

The plant Arabidopsis thaliana belongs to the higher plants (flowering plants). This plant is closely related to other plant species from-the Cruciferae family such as, for example, Brassica napus, but also to other families of dicotyledonous plants. Owing to the high degree of homology of its DNA sequences or its polypeptide sequences, Arabidopsis thaliana can be employed as model plant for other plant species.

a) Culture of Arabidopsis plants

The plants are grown either on Murashige-Skoog medium supplemented with 0.5 % sucrose (Ogas et al. (1997) Science 277:91-94) or in soil (Focks & Benning (1998) Plant Physiol 118:91-101). To achieve uniform germination and flowering times, the seeds are first placed on medium or scattered on the soil and then stratified for two days at 4° C. After flowering, the pods are labeled. According to the labels, pods aged 6 to 20 days post-anthesis are then harvested.

Example 2 Cloning the Yeast Gpd1 Gene

Genomic DNA from Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain S288C (Mat alpha. SUC2 mal mel gal2 CUP1 flol flo8-1; Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany) was isolated following the protocol described hereinbelow:

A 100 ml culture was grown at 30° C. to an optical density of 1.0. 60 ml of the culture were spun down for 3 minutes at 3000×g. The pellet was resuspended in 6 ml of twice-distilled H₂O and the suspension was divided between 1.5 ml containers and spun down, and the supernatant was discarded. The pellets were resuspended in 200 μl of solution A, 200 μl phenol/chloroform (1:1) and 0.3 g of glass beads by vortexing and then lysed. After addition of 200 μl of TE buffer, pH 8.0, the lysates were spun for 5 minutes. The supernatant was subjected to ethanol precipitation with 1 ml of ethanol. After the precipitation, the resulting pellet was dissolved in 400 μl of TE buffer pH 8.0+30 μg/ml RNase A. Following incubation for 5 minutes at 37° C., 18 μl 3 M sodium acetate solution pH 4.8 and 1 ml of ethanol were added, and the precipitated DNA was pelleted by spinning. The DNA pellet was dissolved in 25 μl of twice-distilled H₂O. The concentration of the genomic DNA was determined by its absorption at 260 nm.

Solution A:

2% Trition-X100

1% SDS

0.1 M NaCl

0.01 M Tris-HCl pH 8.0

0.001 M EDTA

To clone the Gpd1 gene, the yeast DNA which has been isolated was employed in a PCR reaction with the oligonucleotide primers ONP1 and ONP2. ONP1: 5′-ACTAGTATGTCTGCTGCTGCTGATAG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 18) ONP2: 5′-CTCGAGATCTTCATGTAGATCTAATT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 19)

Composition of the PCR reaction (50 μl):

5.00 μl 5 μg genomic yeast-DNA

5.00 μl 10× buffer (Advantage polymerase)+25 mM MgCl₂

5.00 μl 2 mM dNTP

1.25 μl each primer (10 pmol/uL)

0.50 μl Advantage polymerase

The Advantage polymerase employed was from Clontech.

PCR-Program:

Initial denaturation for 2 min at 95° C., then 35 cycles of 45 sec at 95° C., 45 sec at 55° C. and 2 min at 72° C. Final extension for 5 min at 72° C.

The PCR products were cloned into the vector pCR2.1-TOPO (Invitrogen) following the manufacturer's instructions, resulting in the vector pCR2.1-gpd1, and the sequence was verified by sequencing.

Cloning into the agro transformation vector PGPTV involved incubating 0.5 μg of the vector pCR2.1-gpd1 with the restriction enzyme XhoI (New England Biolabs) for 2 hours and subsequent incubation for 15 minutes with Klenow fragment (New England Biolabs). After incubation for 2 hours with SpeI, the DNA fragments were separated by gel electrophoresis. The 1185 bp segment of the gpdl sequence next to the vector (3.9 kb) was excized from the gel, purified with the “Gel Purification” kit from Qiagen following the manufacturer's instructions and eluted with 50 μl of elution buffer. 0.1 μg of the vector PGPTV was first digested for 1 hour with the restriction enzyme SacI and then incubated for 15 minutes with Klenow fragment (New England Biolabs). 10 μl of the eluate of the gpdl fragments and 10 ng of the treated pGPTV vector were ligated overnight at 16° C. (T4 ligase, New England Biolabs). The ligation products were then transformed into TOP10 cells (Stratagene) following the manufacturer's instructions and suitably selected, resulting in the vector pGPTV-gpd1. Positive clones are verified by sequencing and PCR using the primers ONP1 and ONP2.

To generate the vector pSUN-USP-gpd1, a PCR was carried out with the vector pCR2.1-gpd1 using the primers ONP3 and ONP4. (SEQ ID NO: 20) ONP3: 5′-GCGGCCGCCATGTCTGCTGCTGCTGATAG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 21) ONP4: 5′-GCGGCCGCATCTTCATGTAGATCTAATT-3′

Composition of the PCR reaction (50 μl):

5 ng DNA plasmid pCR2.1-gpd1

5.00 μl 10× buffer (Advantage polymerase)+25 mM MgCl₂

5.00 μl 2 mM dNTP

1.25 μl each primer (10 pmol/uL)

0.50 μl Advantage polymerase

The Advantage po-lymerase employed was from Clontech.

PCR-Program:

Initial denaturation for 2 min at 95° C., then 35 cycles of 45 sec at 95° C., 45 sec at 55° C. and 2 min at 72° C. Final extension for 5 min at 72° C.

The 1190 bp PCR product was digested for 24 hours with the restriction enzyme NotI. The vector pSUN-USP was digested for 2 hours with NotI and then incubated for 15 minutes with alkaline phosphatase (New England Biolabs). 100 ng of the pretreated gpdl fragment and 10 ng of the treated vector PGPTV were ligated overnight at 16° C. (T4 Ligase from New England Biolabs). The ligation products were then transformed into TOP10 cells (Stratagene) following the manufacturer's instructions and suitably selected, resulting in the vector pSUN-uSp-gpd1. Positive clones are verified by sequencing and PCR using the primers ONP3 and ONP4.

Example 3 Plasmids for the Transformation of Plants

Binary vectors such as pBinAR can be used for the transformation of plants (Höfgen und Willmitzer (1990) Plant Science 66: 221-230). The binary vectors can be constructed by ligating the cDNA into T-DNA in sense and antisense orientation. 5′ of the cDNA, a plant promoter activates the transcription of the cDNA. A polyadenylation sequence is located 3′ of the cDNA.

Tissue-specific expression can be achieved using a tissue-specific promoter. For example, seed-specific expression can be achieved by cloning in the napin or the LeB4- or the USP promoter 5′ of the cDNA. Any other seed-specific promoter element can also be used. The CaMV 35S promoter can be used for constitutive expression in the whole plant.

A further example of binary vectors is the vector pSUN-USP and pGPTV-napin, into which the fragment of Example.2 was cloned. The vector pSUN-USP contains the USP promoter and the OCS terminator. The vector pGPTV-napin contains a truncated version of the napin promoter, and the nos terminator.

The fragments of Example 2 were cloned into the multiple cloning site of the vector pSUN-USP and pGPTV-napin respectively, to make possible the seed-specific expression of the gdpl gene. The corresponding construct pSUN-USP-gpd1 is described with the SEQ ID NO: 17, and the construct of G3PDH in pGPTV-napin (pGPTV-gpd1) by SEQ ID NO: 36.

Example 4 Transformation of Agrobacterium

Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation can be carried out for example using the Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains GV3101 (pMP90) (Koncz und Schell (1986) Mol Gen Genet 204: 383-396) or LBA4404 (Clontech). Standard transformation techniques may be used for the transformation (Deblaere et al.(1984) Nucl Acids Res 13:4777-4788).

Example 5 Transformation of Plants

Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation can be effected using standard transformation and regeneration techniques (Gelvin S B, Schilperoort R, Plant Molecular Biology Manual, 2nd ed., Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publ., .1995, in Sect, Ringbuch Zentrale Signatur: BT1l-P ISBN 0-7923-2731-4; Glick B R, Thompson J E, Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Boca Raton:: CRC Press, 1993, 360 pp., ISBN 0-8493-5164-2).

The transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana by means of Agrobacterium was carried out by the method of Bechthold et al., 1993 (C.R. Acad. Sci. Ser. III Sci. Vie., 316, 1194-1199). For example, oilseed rape can be transformed by cotyledon or hypocotyl transformation (Moloney et al.(1989) Plant Cell Report 8:238-242; De Block et al.(1989) Plant Physiol 91: 694-701). The use of antibiotics for the selection of agrobacteria and plants depends on the binary vector used for the transformation and the agrobacterial strain. The selection of oilseed rape is usually carried out using kanamycin as-selectable plant marker.

Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer into linseed (Linum usitatissimum) can be carried out for example using a technique described by Mlynarova et al. (1994) Plant Cell Report 13:282-285. Soya can be transformed for example using a technique described in EP-A-0 0424 047 (Pioneer Hi-Bred International) or in EP-A-0 0397 687, U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,543, U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,770 (University of Toledo).

The transformation of plants using particle bombardment, polyethylene glycol mediated DNA uptake or via the silicon carbonate fiber technique is described, for example, by Freeling and Walbot “The Maize Handbook” (1993) ISBN 3-540-97826-7, Springer Verlag New York).

Example 6 Studying the Expression of a Recombinant Gene Product in a Transformed Organism

The activity of a recombinant gene product in the transformed host organism was measured at the transcription and/or translation level.

A suitable method for determining the level of transcription of the gene (which indicates the amount of RNA available for translating the gene product) is to carry out a Northern blot as described hereinbelow (for reference see Ausubel et al. (1988) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Wiley: N.Y., or the above examples section), where a primer which is designed such that it binds to the gene of interest is labeled with a detectable label (usually a radiolabel or chemiluminescent label) so that, when the total RNA of a culture of the organism is extracted, separated on a gel, transferred to a stable matrix and incubated with this probe, binding and the extent of binding of the probe indicates the presence and the amount of mRNA for this gene. This information indicates the degree of transcription of the transformed gene. Cellular total RNA can be prepared from cells, tissues or organs using several methods, all of which are known in the art, for example the method Bormann, E. R., et al. (1992) Mol. Microbiol. 6:317-326.

Northern Hybridization:

To carry out the RNA hybridization, 20 μg of total RNA or 1 μg of poly(A)+RNA were separated by means of gel electrophoresis in 1.25% strength agarose gels using formaldehyde and following the method described by Amasino (1986, Anal. Biochem. 152, 304), transferred to positively charged nylon membranes (Hybond N+, Amersham, Brunswick) by capillary force using 10×SSC, immobilized by UV light and prehybridized for 3 hours at 68° C. using hybridization buffer (10% dextran sulfate w/v, 1 M NaCl, 1% SDS, 100 mg herring sperm DNA). The DNA probe was labeled with the Highprime DNA labeling kit (Roche, Mannheim, Germany) during the prehybridization step, using alpha-³²P-dCTP (Amersham Pharmacia, Brunswick, Germany). Hybridization was carried out overnight at 68° C. after addition of the labeled DNA probe in the same buffer. The wash steps were carried out twice for 15 minutes using 2×SSC and twice for 30 minutes using 1×SSC, 1% SDS, at 68° C. The sealed filters were exposed at −70° C. for a period of 1 to 14 days.

To study the presence or the relative amount of protein translated from this mRNA, standard techniques such as a Western blot may be employed (see, for example, Ausubel et al. (1988) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Wiley: N.Y.). In this method, the cellular total proteins are extracted, separated by means of gel electrophoresis, transferred to a matrix like nitrocellulose and incubated with a probe such as an antibody which binds specifically to the desired protein. This probe is usually provided with a chemiluminescent or colorimetric label which can be detected readily. The presence and the amount of the label observed indicates the presence and the amount of the desired mutated protein which is present in the cell.

Example 7 Analysis of the Effect of the Recombinant Proteins on the Production of the Desired Product

The effect of genetic modification in plants, fungi, algae, ciliates or on the production of a desired compound (such as a fatty acid) can be determined by growing the modified microorganisms or the modified plant under suitable conditions (as described above) and examining the medium and/or the cellular components for increased production of the desired product (i.e. lipids or a fatty acid). These analytical techniques are known to the skilled worker and comprise spectroscopy, thin-layer chromatography, various staining methods, enzymatic and microbiological methods, and analytical chromatography such as high-performance liquid chromatography (see, for example, Ullmann, Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, vol. A2, pp. 89-90 and pp. 443-613, VCH: Weinheim (1985); Fallon A et al. (1987) “Applications of HPLC.in Biochemistry” in: Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, vol. 17; Rehm et al. (1993) Biotechnology, vol. 3, chapter III: “Product recovery and purification”, pp. 469-714, VCH: Weinheim; Belter P A et al. (1988) Bioseparations: downstream processing for Biotechnology, John Wiley and Sons; Kennedy J F und Cabral J M S (1992.) Recovery processes for biological Materials, John Wiley and Sons; Shaeiwitz J A and Henry J D (1988) Biochemical Separations, in: Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, vol. B3; chapter 11, p. 1-27, VCH: Weinheim; and Dechow, F. J. (1989) Separation and purification techniques in biotechnology, Noyes Publications).

In addition to the abovementioned methods, plant lipids are extracted from plant material as described by Cahoon et al. (1999) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96 (22):12935-12940, and Browse et al. (1986) Analytic Biochemistry 152:141-145. Qualitative and quantitative lipid or fatty acid analysis is described by Christie, William W., Advances in Lipid Methodology, Ayr/Scotland: Oily Press (Oily Press Lipid Library; 2); Christie, William W., Gas Chromatography and Lipids. A Practical Guide—Ayr, Scotland: Oily Press, 1989, Repr. 1992, IX, 307 pp. (Oily Press Lipid Library; 1); “Progress in Lipid Research, Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1 (1952) - 16 (1977) under the title: Progress in the Chemistry of Fats and Other Lipids CODEN.

In addition to measuring the end product of the fermentation, it is also possible to analyze other components of the metabolic pathways which are used for producing the desired compound, such as intermediates and secondary products, in order to determine the overall efficacy of the production of the compound. The analytical methods encompass measurements of the nutrient quantities in the medium (for example sugars, carbohydrates, nitrogen sources, phosphate and other ions), measurements of the biomass compositions and of the growth, analysis of the production of customary metapolites of biosynthetic pathways, and measurements of gases produced during fermentation. Standard methods for these measurements are described in Applied Microbial Physiology; A Practical Approach, P. M. Rhodes and P. F. Stanbury, ed., IRL Press, pp. 103-129; 131-163 and 165-192 (ISBN: 0199635773) and references cited therein.

One example is the analysis of fatty acids (abbreviations: FAME, fatty acid methyl esters; GC-MS, gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry; TAG, triacylglycerol; TLC, thin-layer chromatography).

Unambiguous proof for the presence of fatty acid products can be obtained by analyzing recombinant organisms by analytical standard methods: GC, GC-MS or TLC, as described variously by Christie and the references cited therein (1997, in: Advances on Lipid Methodology, fourth edition: Christie, Oily Press, Dundee, 119-169; 1998, Gaschromatographie-Massenspektrometrie-Verfahren [gas-chromatographic/mass-spectrometric methods], Lipide 33:343-353).

The material to be analyzed can be disrupted by sonication, milling in the glass mill, liquid nitrogen and milling or other applicable methods. After disruption, the material must be centrifuged. The sediment is resuspended in distilled water, heated for 10 minutes at 100° C., cooled on ice and recentrifuged, followed by extraction in 0.5 M sulfuric acid in methanol with 2% dimethoxypropane for 1 hour at 90° C., which gives hydrolyzed oil and lipid compounds, which give transmethylated lipids. These fatty acid methyl esters are extracted in petroleum ether and finally subjected to GC analysis using a capillary column (Chrompack, WCOT Fused Silica, CP-Wax-52 CB, 25 mm, 0.32 mm) at a temperature gradient of between 170° C. and 240° C. for 20 minutes and for 5 minutes at 240° C. The identity of the fatty acid methyl esters obtained must be defined using standards which are available from commercial sources (i.e. Sigma).

The following protocol was used for the quantitative oil analysis of the Arabidopsis plants transformed with the Gpd1 gene:

Lipid extraction from the seeds is carried out by the method of Bligh & Dyer (1959) Can J Biochem Physiol 37:911. To this end, 5 mg of Arabidopsis seeds are weighed into 1.2 ml Qiagen microtubes (Qiagen, Hilden) using a Sartorius (Göttingen) microbalance. The seed material is homogenized with 500 μl chloroform/methanol (2:1; contains mono-C17-glycerol from Sigma as internal standard) in an MM300 Retsch mill from Retsch (Haan) and incubated for 20 minutes at RT. The phases were separated after addition of 500 μl 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer pH 7.5. 50 μl are removed from the organic phase, diluted with 1500 μl of chloroform, and 5 μl are applied to Chromarods SIII capillaries from Iatroscan (SKS, Bechenheim). After application of the samples, they are separated in a first step for 15 mins in a thin-layer chamber saturated with 6:2:2 chloroform: methanol: toluene. After the time has elapsed, the capillaries are dried for 4 minutes at room temperature and then placed for 22 minutes into a thin-layer chamber saturated with 7:3 n-hexane:diethyl ether. After a further drying step for 4 minutes at room temperature, the samples are analyzed in an Iatroscan MK-5 (SKS, Bechenheim) following the method of Fraser & Taggart, 1988 J. Chromatogr. 439:404. The following parameters were set for the measurements: slice width 50 msec, threshold 20 mV, noise 30, skim ratio 0. The data were quantified with reference to the internal standard mono-C17-glycerol (Sigma) and a calibration curve established with tri-C17-glycerol (Sigma), using the program ChromStar (SKS, Beichenheim).

T2 seeds of several independent transgenic. lines with the constructs pSUN-USP-gpd1 or pGPTV-gpd1 were analyzed to determine the oil contents quantitatively. Three independent extractions were carried out with the seed pools of each line, and the extracts were measured independently. The three independent measurements were used to calculate the mean and the standard deviation.

The result of the measurements for the lines with the construct pGPTV-gpd1 showed a significantly higher oil content in several (10) transgenic lines (FIG. 1) compared to the measurements of 10 wild-type plants. Similar oil contents are measured for the construct pSUN-USP-gpd1 (not shown).

The average oil content of the above lines is 34.86±1.56%, while the average of the wild-type plants is 27.75±2.64%. This corresponds to an absolute increase in the oil content of 7.1% (relative: 25.6%).

To verify the heritability of the gdpl effect (increased oil content), T2 seeds from the lines with increased oil contents and from lines with unchanged oil contents were planted. In each case 6 plants per line were planted out and the seeds were analyzed for oil content and enzyme activity. The oil content was determined by the methodology described above. The data obtained are shown in FIG. 2. Col-0 and C24 Arabidopsis ecotypes act as controls. C24 is an ecotype which is distinguished by a higher oil content than Col-0. It was possible to characterize lines whose oil contents exceeds that of Col-0. The heritability of the increased oil content as the effect of the expression of the gdp1 genes was thus demonstrated.

Example 8 Determination of Glycerol-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Activity

A further aim was the demonstration of the direct effect of the enzyme in the transgenic plants, in addition to the increased oil content. To determine the glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, two Arabidopsis seed pods were harvested per plant and extracted by the method of Geigenberger and Stitt ((1993) Planta 189:329-339). To this end, the pods were ground in a mortar under liquid nitrogen and taken up in 200 μl 50 mM HEPES pH 7.4 5 mM 20 MgCl₂, 1 mM EDTA, lmM EGTA, 5 mM DTT, 0.1% (w/w) of bovine serum albumin, 2 mM benzamidine, 2 mM amino-n-caproic acid, 0.5 mM phenylmethylsulphonyl, 0.1% Triton X-100 and 10% (w/w) glycerol and spun down for 5 minutes, and the supernatant was divided into aliquots. The production of G3P (glycerol-3-phosphate) from the substrates DHAP (dihydroxyacetone phosphate) and NADH was measured to determine the G3PDH activity. To this end, the oxidation of NADH was monitored at 340 nm.

The reaction mixture for the activity determination contained 50 mM HEPES pH 7.4, 4 mM DHAP, 0.2 mM NADH and 10 μl of the extraction mix in final volume of 100 μl. After incubation for 30 minutes at room temperature, the reaction was stopped by heating (20 min, 95° C.). In the control reaction, the reaction was stopped immediately by heating.

Glycerol-3-phosphate “cycling assay”: 10 μl of the reaction mixture were added to 45 μl of a solution comprising 200 mM Tricin, MgCl₂ ₅ mM (pH 8.5) and heated (20 min, 95° C.) to destroy remaining DHAP. The supernatant was transferred into a 96-well microtiter plate, treated with 45 μl of a mixture comprising 2 units G3Pox, 130 units catalase, 0.4 unit G3PDH and 0.12 μmol NADH. The reaciton was carried out at 30° C. and the resulting absorption monitored at 340 nm in an Anthos htII microplate reader. Reaction rates were calculated on the basis of the decrease in absorption in (mOD*min-1.) using the Biolise software (gibon Y et al. (2002) Plant J 30(2):221-235).

The enzyme activity in the transgenic lines #11, #21, #41 and #67 is significantly higher than in control plants (FIG. 3). The plants with increased oil contents correlate with plants with increased enzyme activites. It was thus demonstrated that the increased oil content can be attributed to the increased conversion of DHAP into G3P, the precursor of oil synthesis. 

1. A method of increasing total oil content in a plant organism or a tissue, organ, part, cell or propagation material thereof, comprising: expressing a transgenic yeast glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in said plant organism or in a said tissue, organ, part, cell or propagation material thereof; and selecting the plant organism or the tissue, organ, part, cell or propagation material thereof in which the total oil content in said plant organism or in said tissue, organ, part, cell or propagation material thereof, is increased in comparison with a corresponding plant organism or a tissue organ part, cell or propagation material thereof that is not expressing the transgenic yeast glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.
 2. A The method of claim 1, wherein the glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase is derived from a yeast selected from the genera consisting of Cryptococcus, Torulopsis, Pityrosporum, Brettanomyces, Candida, Kloeckera, Trigonopsis, Trichosporon, Rhodotorul, Sporobolomyces, Bullera, Saccharomyces, Debaromyces, Lipomyces, Hansenula, Endomycopsis, Pichia and Hanseniaspora.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase is derived from a yeast selected from the species consisting of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia pastoris, Hansenula polymorpha, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Kluyveromyces lactis, Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, Yarrowia lipolitica, Emericella nidulans, Aspergillus nidulans, Debaryomyces hansenii and Torulaspora hansenii.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase brings about the conversion of dihydroxyacetone phosphate to glycerol-3-phosphate using NADH as cosubstrate and has a peptide sequence encompassing at least one sequence motif selected from the group of sequence motifs consisting of: i) GSGNWGT(A/T)IAK; ii) CG(V/A)LSGAN(L/I/V)AXE(V/I)A; and iii) (L/V)FXRPYFXV.


5. The method of claim 1, wherein the glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase brings about the conversion of dihydroxyacetone phosphate to glycerol-3-phosphate using NADH as cosubstrate and has a peptide sequence encompassing at least one sequence motif selected from the group of sequence motifs consisting of: iv) GSGNWGTTIAKV(V/I)AEN; v) NT(K/R)HQNVKYLP; vi) D(I/V)LVFN(I/V)PHQFL; vii) RA(I/V)SCLKGFE; viii) CGALSGANLA(P/T)EVA; ix) LFHRPYFHV; and x) GLGEII(K/R)FG.


6. The method of claim 4, wherein the glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase additionally encompasses at least one sequence motif selected from the group of sequence motifs consisting of: xi) H(E/Q)NVKYL; xii) (D/N)(I/V)(L/I)V(F/W)(V/N)(L/I/V)PHQF(V/L/ I); xiii) (A/G)(I/V)SC(L/I)KG and xiv) G(L/M)(L/G)E(M/I)(I/Q)(R/K/N)F(G/S/A).


7. The method of claim 1, wherein the amino acid sequence of the yeast glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase comprises: the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 38 or 40; or a functional equivalent of a) said sequence, which has an amino acid identity of at least 60% to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 2. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plant is an oil crop.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the total oil content in the seed of a plant is increased.
 10. A transgenic expression cassette comprising, a nucleic acid sequence encoding a yeast glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase under the control of a functional promoter.
 11. The transgenic expression cassette of claim 10, wherein the nucleic acid sequence comprises: the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 37 or 39; or a sequence derived from the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 37 or 39 in accordance with the degeneracy of the genetic code; or a sequence which has at least 60% identity with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 12. The transgenic expression cassette of claim 10, wherein the promoter is a seed-specific promotor.
 13. A transgenic vector comprising the expression cassette of claim.
 14. A transgenic plant organism, tissue, organ, part, cell or propagation material thereof, comprising a recombinant yeast glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.
 15. The transgenic plant organism of claim 14, which is an oil crop selected from the group of the oil crops consisting of Borvago officinalis, Brassica campestris, Brassica napus, Brassica rapa, Cannabis sativa, Carthamus tinctorius, Cocos nucifera, Crambe abyssinica, Cuphea species, Elaeis guinensis, Elaeis oleifera, Glycine max, Gossypium hirsutum, Gossypium barbadense, Gossypium herbaceum, Helianthus annuus, Linum usitatissimum, Oenothera biennis, Olea europaea, Oryza sativa, Ricinus communis, Sesamum indicum, Triticum species, Zea mays, walnut and almond.
 16. A method for the production of oils fats free fatty acids or derivatives thereof comprising expressing a transgenic yeast glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in a plant organism or tissue, organ, part, cell or propagation material thereof.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the amino acid sequence of the yeast glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase contains one or more sequences selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NOS. 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 22-35, 38 and
 40. 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the total oil content in said plant organism or in said tissue, organ, part, cell or propagation material thereof, is increased by at least 10%.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the total oil content in said plant organism or in said tissue, organ, part, cell or propagation material thereof, is increased by at least 25%.
 20. The transgenic expression cassette of claim 11, wherein the promoter is a seed-specific promotor.
 21. The transgenic plant organism, tissue, organ, part, cell or propagation material thereof of claim 14, wherein the recombinant yeast glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase is a part of an expression cassette.
 22. The transgenic plant organism, tissue, organ, part, cell or propagation material thereof of claim 14, wherein the recombinant yeast glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase is a part of a vector.
 23. The transgenic expression cassette of claim 11, wherein the nucleic acid sequence contains at least 80% identity with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 24. A transgenic expression cassette which contains a nucleic acid sequence that encodes: the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 38 or 40; a sequence is the functional equivalent of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 38 or 40; or an amino acid which has at least 60% identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 2. 25. The transgenic expression cassette of claim 24, wherein the amino acid sequence has at least 80% identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 2. 26. A transgenic expression cassette that contains a nucleic acid sequence which encodes one or more of the amino acid sequences selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NOS. 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 22-35, 38 and
 40. 27. The transgenic expression cassette of claim 26, wherein the one more amino acid sequences comprises at least three.
 28. The transgenic expression cassette of claim 26, wherein the one more amino acid sequences comprises at least five. 